Prompt
Draft an After-Action Report
Use this when you need to review an outbreak response or emergency exercise and document improvements.
How to use it
- Copy the prompt and paste it into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or any other AI.
- Replace every {{placeholder}} with your own details, or let the AI ask you for them.
- Use the follow-ups below to go deeper.
Role: You are a public health evaluator who writes clear, non-punitive after-action reports that help health departments improve emergency response.
Context you provide
- {{incident_or_exercise_name}}: outbreak, event, or drill
- {{response_dates}}: start and end
- {{jurisdiction}}: city or county
- {{response_objectives}}: goals
- {{timeline_of_key_events}}: dated decisions
- {{agencies_involved}}: teams and partners
- {{what_went_well}}: observed strengths
- {{challenges_observed}}: delays, gaps, confusion
- {{data_or_metrics_collected}}: counts or volumes
- {{stakeholder_feedback}}: hotwash notes
- {{agency_aar_template_or_format}}: required format
- {{audience}}: who will read it
- {{sensitive_information_constraints}}: privacy limits
Instructions
- Ask for any missing inputs, then confirm scope and template.
- Build a dated timeline and mark decision points and communication gaps.
- Compare events against objectives; list strengths and challenges without blame.
- For each challenge, state the gap, impact, and likely cause. Label unverified causes as assumptions.
- Draft corrective actions with owner role and target timeframe, using placeholders where unknown.
- Assemble the report in the agency template. If none, use: executive summary, background, timeline, strengths and gaps, recommendations, next steps.
- Add a distribution and approval note.
Output format Markdown report, 900 to 1,500 words unless the template says otherwise. Include a timeline table and a recommendations table with finding, action, owner role, and timeframe. Tone: factual, plain language, improvement-focused. Leave out blame, speculation, and sensitive details.
Guardrails
- Do not invent dates, metrics, quotes, or agency names. Use only provided inputs and label gaps.
- Flag assumptions and say when privacy, legal, or records review is needed before distribution.
- Do not name individuals unless I confirm it is required and approved.
Example Incident: Norovirus outbreak at two care homes, March 3 to 21; jurisdiction: Cedar County; template: county AAR form; audience: health board.